Get your terrace summer-party ready… with plants

Plant décor ideas for patios, terraces and balconies

Barbecues, garden parties, dinners al fresco… the season of outdoor entertaining is here. But if you really want your party to go with a swing, you need to set the scene.  Whether you’ve got a tiny balcony, a spacious patio or a magnificent roof terrace, the right plants promise to bring your outdoor living space to life.

Here are a few ideas to help get you started…

Appeal to the senses

Be sure to create a space with not only beautiful plants to look at, but to smell too! We're inspired by the patio from Italian blogger Elisabetta with a Mediterranean feel using olive trees, rosemary, lavender, roses, hydrangeas, cyclamen for a feast for the eyes and the nose, see her post here. Create an eye catching display by picking flowering plants with complementary colours, why not try a palette of pinks and purples for a bright showcase? 

Gorgeous Trees

Quaff cocktails in a tropical haven by filling your conservatory, terrace or deck with majestic palms in oversized planters or use a stunning fuchsia tree for a dash of colour. Don't forget you can air out your Ficus for an extra flourish. 

Vertical garden

A vertical garden provides a lush and beautiful backdrop for drinks on the terrace – and is a great way to bring a touch of nature to an urban space. Read more about the benefits of living walls in our guide. If you don't have the space for a living wall try other vertical growers like the Patio Plant of the Year, the Passiflora. 

Hosting an outdoor dinner party? Large wicker baskets filled with hydrangea soften the look of a contemporary terrace. Continue the theme with a hydrangea table centrepiece. Foliage and flowering plants looks fantastic in hanging baskets too, take advantage of low-hanging branches to display them or upcycle an old coat rack for the ultimate shabby chic look. 

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